Pladis, parent company of McVitie’s and Jacob’s, is calling for the industry to create change and start more conversations around mental health in its new campaign which will launch on 3 March at HRC.
Lisa Warner, out of home foodservice controller, Pladis, said, “We all know successful hospitality businesses are built on happy, productive teams, but research shows that 1 in 4 people experience mental health problems each year. As a large employer, the hospitality industry has an opportunity to make a real difference to the wellbeing of the UK’s workforce.
“A lot has been done to raise awareness of the fact a high number of catering and hospitality workers face mental health issues. Our aim is to promote the help available by telling the story and signposting the industry to where this support can be found.
'We’ve teamed up with Hospitality Action to support its new Mental Health Campaign, and have created a series of videos to tell the stories behind the smiles of workers across the industry. These films will picture three real employees who have suffered with mental health issues, but found that talking through their difficulties has really helped.”
Pladis will be on tour with its Happiness Couch over the next 18 months, sharing the videos and inviting the industry to sit down and have a chat over a cuppa and a biscuit to learn more about where they can receive support or help employees.
Warner concluded, “Our aim is to create change and start more conversations around mental health – a brew, a biscuit and a chat is a great way to start.”
The Happiness Couch will be on stand P650 with pladis and Hospitality Action on 3 and 4 March at HRC.